Kentucky freshman guard Keldon Johnson has been named the SEC Freshman of the Year by the leagues coaches. Additionally, Johnson was named All-SEC Second Team and All-Freshman team by the coaches.

Johnson is averaging a team best 16.3 points per game on 52.3 percent shooting and 45.5 percent from three-point range against AP Top 25 opponents this season.

Overall, Johnson is averaging 13.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game this season. The UK freshman has reached double figures 23 times this season, including six games with 20 or more points.

Johnson’s best scoring game of his career came in a 27-point effort vs. Tennessee State in November but he stepped up in some of the Wildcats biggest games of the season. Johnson scored 21 points in a win vs. North Carolina, 20 on the road at Auburn, and 19 at home vs. then-top-ranked Tennessee.

Johnson is the 10th Kentucky player to win SEC Freshman of the Year, the ninth under John Calipari.

Freshman guard Tyler Herro claimed the SEC Newcomer of the Year award by the AP, so technically, both players are SEC Freshman of the Year.

About the author /

Shawn Smith is a graduate of Lincoln Memorial University, where he earned a degree in elementary education. He currently resides in Middlesboro, Kentucky and is a credentialed media member at the University of Kentucky. Smith founded and published Go Big Blue Country in November 2016. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @gbbcountry or reach him via email at gobigbluecountry@gmail.com